BACKGROUND Erythrocytes from individuals with pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) are resistant to invasion by Plasmodium falciparum parasites, and erythrocytes infected with ring-stage parasites are preferentially cleared by macrophages in vitro. However, the underlying molecular basis of protection is unknown. In the present study, we examined adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in PKD erythrocy...

The adherence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae to human and sheep erythrocytes was directly related to the presence of sialyl residues on the erythrocytes. Competitive binding studies between M. pneumoniae and M. gallisepticum, known to bind to human erythrocytes via glycophorin, further reinforced the role of sialic acid in this recognition event.

Proflavine is a very powerful accelerator of saponin hemolysis of rabbit, human, and dog erythrocytes. Lysolecithin hemolysis, on the other hand, is inhibited. Dog erythrocytes in the presence of proflavine undergo marked changes in shape, finally becoming rods of about 13 micro in length. Rabbit and human erythrocytes are not altered in form under these conditions.

We have earlier shown through electron spin resonance (ESR) studies of leukocytes that membranes of cells from both Chediak-Higashi syndrome (CHS) mice and humans have abnormally high fluidity. We have extended our studied to erythrocytes. Erythrocytes were labeled with the nitroxide-substituted analogue of stearic acid, 2-(3-carboxypropyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-tridecyl-3-oxazolidinyloxyl, and ESR sp...

BACKGROUND The peptide mastoparan 7 (MST7) stimulated ATP release in human erythrocytes. We explored intra- and extracellular processes governing the time-dependent accumulation of extracellular ATP (i.e., ATPe kinetics). METHODS Human erythrocytes were treated with MST7 in the presence or absence of two blockers of pannexin 1. ATPe concentration was monitored by luciferin-luciferase based re...